Pork neck with herbs and banh hoi noodles

"My partner and I love eating like this when we have friends
over - it's interactive, it's fun," says Anchovy chef Thi Le. "It's
very communal because everyone is involved from start to finish,
from picking the herbs through to grilling the meat and wrapping
their own wrap - everyone helps themselves. You can have as much or
as little of all the bits and bobs as you please (it's completely
customised to your taste). Pile them all up on a leaf and off you
go." Start this recipe a day ahead to marinate the pork.

Method

For pickles, combine vinegar, sugar and 50ml water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat, stand to cool for 2 minutes, then add daikon and carrot, and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to pickle and soften. Pickles will keep refrigerated for 2 weeks.

03

For spring onion oil, warm oil in a very small saucepan over low heat until just hot. Remove from heat, add spring onion, stir vigorously for 40 seconds, then season to taste with salt and set aside to cool.

04

For pineapple glaze, stir ingredients in a small saucepan over high heat until sugar dissolves (2-3 minutes), then remove from heat.

05

Heat a charcoal barbecue to low-medium heat (see note) and grill drained pork neck, turning occasionally and basting with pineapple glaze, until charred on the outside and cooked medium with an internal temperature of 60C on a meat thermometer (25-35 minutes). Rest pork for 10 minutes, then thinly slice and transfer to a plate.

06

Meanwhile, place banh hoi in a deep roasting pan. Add enough boiling water to cover noodles and stand until softened (1-2 minutes). Drain, refresh in iced water, drain again, then blot on paper towels to soak up excess water. Brush with seasoned coconut cream, roll loosely, transfer to a serving plate and top with spring onion oil.

At A Glance

Serves 4 people

45 min preparation

10 min cooking

Additional Notes

Dried banh hoi noodles are available from Asian grocers in flat rectangular pieces. If they’re unavailable, substitute rice vermicelli. Herbs are available from Vietnamese grocers and select Thai grocers. Kampot peppercorns, from Cambodia, are available from Herbie’s Spices (herbies.com.au). You can use a char-grill pan to cook the pork, although it will need to be cut in half to cook evenly and prevent burning; the final cooking time may vary.

Drink Suggestion

Express Winemakers Rosé 2015, Margaret River – a grenache rosé with abundant red-berry characters that give way to more savoury, orange-peel and herbal notes. Add to that racy acidity an almost salty finish and fresh crunch.